Team Nike at the 2013 U.S. Open :: How They Qualified and Where They Stand

At this year’s United States Open, we have 11 Nike Golf athletes in the field (there were only 8 at the Masters). The U.S. Open is always a test and it should be no different at Merion Golf Club this year.

3 of 5 were or are Nike athletes (Rory did not win as a member of Team Nike, but G’Lover and Tiger did. Lucas has moved on from the swoosh).

That statistic doesn’t mean much, but I really think Rory, Charl and Tiger are serious contenders, while Thorbjorn and Chappell have had great success at the Majors

Here’s a breakdown of the 11 Team Nike members playing at Merion:

Paul Casey
current world golf ranking: 168qualification: English local qualifierodds of winning: 150/1history at the U.S. Open: 9 previous starts, 10th in 2007, cut last year.recent finishes: cut at BMW PGA, 8th at Volvo China

Kevin Chappell
current world golf ranking: 103qualification: Top 10 in 2012 US Openodds of winning: 100/1history at the U.S. Open: Top 10’s in 2011 and 2012recent finishes: 2nd at Memorial

Russell Henley
current world golf ranking: 48qualification: Top 60 OWGRodds of winning: 100/1history at the U.S. Open: made cut as amateur in 2011 and 2010. 42nd and 16th.recent finishes: 27th St. Jude, 6th at Memorial

Rory McIlroy
current world golf ranking: 2qualification: 2011 Winner, 2012 PGA Winner, Top 60 OWGRodds of winning: 20/1history at the U.S. Open: cut in 2012, 1st in 2011recent finishes: 57th Memorial, CUT at BMW PGA, Top 10 at Players

Francesco Molinari
current world golf ranking: 38qualification: Top 60 OWGRodds of winning: 80/1history at the U.S. Open: 4 previous starts, 27th in 2009 top finish, 29th in 2012.recent finishes: 9th BMW PGA, 5th Volvo Match Play

Thorbjorn Olesen
current world golf ranking: 35qualification: Top 60 OWGRodds of winning: 100/1history at the U.S. Open: N/Arecent finishes: T6 at Masters, but missed 3 cuts after that.

Kyle Stanley
current world golf ranking: 60qualification: Top 60 OWGRodds of winning: 125/1history at the U.S. Open: 3 prior finishes, best was 53rd in 2009.recent finishes: 3rd Memorial, CUT at Crowne Plaza, 33rd Players

Nick Watney
current world golf ranking: 24qualification: 2012 PGA Tour Winner, Top 60 OWGRodds of winning: 80/1history at the U.S. Open: 21st in 2012recent finishes: CUT at Memorial and Players, but 10th at Wells Fargo and 15th at Zurich Classic before.